Rare Spade-Toothed Whale Found Dead on New Zealand Beach

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A whale discovered dead on a beach in New Zealand earlier this month has been identified as a spade-toothed whale, a species so rare that it has never been seen alive.
Measuring five meters in length, this beaked whale’s identity was confirmed through its distinctive color patterns, skull shape, beak, and teeth. Its remains are currently in cold storage for DNA testing, which may take several weeks before a final identification is confirmed.
Due to the scarcity of specimens and the absence of live sightings, little is known about the spade-toothed whale. Researchers believe that this discovery could provide essential insights into the species.
Local authorities were alerted when the whale washed ashore on July 4 at the mouth of the Taiari River in Otago province, South Island. Gabe Davies from the Department of Conservation (DOC) stated that spade-toothed whales are among the least understood large mammalian species, with only six documented specimens globally.
This specimen’s recent death offers the potential for it to be the first spade-toothed whale to be dissected. Additionally, New Zealand’s Māori communities, who regard whales as sacred, will be involved in decisions regarding the whale’s fate.
The species was first described in 1874 based on a lower jaw and two teeth collected from New Zealand’s Chatham Islands. Since then, skeletal remains from two additional specimens have been identified in New Zealand and Chile, and two more stranded whales were found off New Zealand’s North Island in 2010 and 2017.